Fire escape apparatus



I Aug. 7, 1945. H. EL WOOD FIRE'ESCAPE APPARATUS Filed July 21,

I INVENTOR. HAQLA/VD D. [L WOOD Cum/20L $7 H/S ATTOQNEY chors.

Patented Aug. 7,' 1945 r "UNITE STATE FIRE EsoArE- APPARATUS Harland n. Elwood, Detroit, Mich., assig'nor to Lewis A. Eastman, Wyandotte, Mich.

Application July 21, 1943, Serial No. 495,615 4 Claims. (01. 227-39) This invention relates to fire escape apparatus and particularly to devices of that class, which may be attached in permanent or semi-permanent manner, to'the interior of a building, and r are ready 'for instantaneous use when the need arises.

An object of the invention is to provide a fire escape device, which is simple in construction,

inexpensive to manufacture, and one which may be stored inside a building in an inconspicuous and compact space near a window or other wallv opening. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape apparatus which may be folded and stored in a wall cabinet, and then quickly swung into operative position for use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device which employs a novel means (Fig. 1) are the uprights 28 and 29 to each of sides 33 of the flexible chute U-shaped members 34, are welded or otherwise secured to the arm' l8, adjacent the lower ends ofthe uprights for anchoring a flexible fire escape chute in position for ready access- The foregoing, and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig; '1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a view showing the device in adjusted position before a window.

v Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the chute extending from the window to the ground an- Fig. 4 is an enlargeddetail showingthe chute supporting means and the device in position in a window. i

' Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed, my'device consists generally of a pivotable supporting frame ||l, and a flexible I chute I I, which when not in active use is stored ing arm It! to clear, when the device is in storage, asshown in Fig. 1.

The frame supporting arm I8 is secured by a T I9, to a suitable vertical member 20, which telescopesinto the pipe 2|,"which in turn is flanged to the floor as at 22, and to the wall as at 23 and 24. A bearing member 25 permits the vertical member and the arm l8, to pivot with greater ease.

Secured to the outer end of the arm l8, by suitable means such as the T 26 and elbow 21 28 and 29, and serve as sockets .for the bar 35 which engages a terminal loop 36 formed in, the

bottom of the chute l. The bar 35 is held against accidental displacement byineans'of the bolts 31, which extend through the legs of the U- shaped sockets 34.

When not in use the wings 3| are swung back vice the cover I 4 is dropped, and the arm 3 is. swung outwardly so that the folded chute H,-

the uprights 28 and. 29, and the wings 3| are all disposed in the window 'o'pening'so that the thrust is carriedby the arm I8 which rests against the wall.' The strap 38 is then unfastened and the chute II is allowed to unfold by its own weight toward the ground, where an assistant secures the loose end of the chute to the posts 39, (Fig. 3) or other suitable anchoring elements, by means of the cables 40, (Fig. 4) which run through tunnels formed in the upper edges of the sides of the chute II, and are secured to the wings 3| as at 3211.

The device is now ready for the evacuation of persons from the building.

Having described my invention what I claim and .desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a flexible chute, an arm, apivot support for said arm, uprights adjacent the free end of said arm, wings pivoted to said uprights, said wings being adapted to support the sides of said chute, a removable bar mounted between said uprights and adapted to support the bottom of said'chute, and a housing'adapted to accommodate said uprights, wings, and said chute,

when the latter is folded, said housing having a slot in one'side arranged to accommodate said arm.

a predetermined'distance from a wall opening, a wall opening, an arm adapted to pivot so that its free end may extend into said cabinet in one position and be in alignment with said wall opening in another position, matched uprights on said arm, and chute supporting means on said uprights.

2. The combination af a wall cabinet positioned 3. The combination defined in claim 2, in which the chute supporting means include a pair of rotatable wings, there being a flexible chute attached to said wings, said chute being folded when the end of said arm is in said cabinet, and said chute being extended through said Wall opening when the said arm is in alignment with said wall opening. 

